Enhanced friction tip for pool cue

ABSTRACT

Improvement of a cue stick for playing pool and the like by providing a nylon tip for contact a ball to be struck. The nylon tip may be nylon 6/12 and may be formed from rod stock of diameter of 0.6125 inch.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to games such as pool and billiards, andmore particularly to a construction of the tip of a pool cue or thelike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games such as pool, billiards, and the like, hereinafterrepresentatively referred to as pool, require that a player impartmomentum to a cue which in certain situations require, tangentialcontact between the tip of the cue stick and the ball. For example, itmay be necessary to avoid having the ball strike a particular ball whichlies between the ball being struck and the intended destination of theball being struck. This may be performed for example by moving the cuestick at an extreme angle to the playing surface while contacting theball to be struck tangentially. The goal of this maneuver is to impartspin or english to the ball as well as to propel the ball from itsresting place on the playing surface.

Pool players must a considerable degree of skill to perform this type ofplay and to obtain the desired results in so doing. Mere application ofskill may not be sufficient to overcome unwanted effects of contactbetween pool cue and ball. It may be necessary to alter frictioncharacteristics of the pool cue to assist in achieving the intendedgoal. Heretofore, there have been limited options in affecting frictioncharacteristics. Use of chalk is widely practiced. However, chalk dustmay serve as a solid lubricant which does not increase frictionalengagement of the smooth surface of the typical ball by the cue stick.

There remains a need for increasing frictional engagement of a cue ballby a cue stick.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a way of increasing frictional engagementof a cue ball by a cue stick. In the present invention, a cue stick isimproved by providing it with a mildly resilient plastic tip. Theplastic tip has surface characteristics which in the course of playingpool assure superior engagement of the ball by the cue stick than hasformerly been the case.

A cue stick improved according to the present invention may be utilizedin breaking or initiating play, and to impart english to assist withcausing a struck cue ball to jump over intervening balls.

It is an object of the invention to improve engagement of the smooth,hard surface of a cue ball by a cue stick.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cue stick according to at least afirst aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a cue stick according to at least asecond aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational view of a cue stick according toat least a third aspect of the invention, wherein the cue stick isassociated with at least two dissimilar replaceable sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect of theinvention, a pool cue stick 100 for playing games such as pool is seento comprise a generally conventional elongated shaft 102 having aproximal end 104 and a distal end 106. The distal end 106, which is thatend intended to make contact with cue balls (not shown) may beconventional. A hollow removable tip 108 made from a mildly resilientsynthetic polymer such as nylon is configured to engage the distal end106 and be retained thereon by friction for example. Of course,fasteners (not shown) may be used if desired. The hollow removable tip108 is shown slightly exaggerated in size in FIG. 1 to better illustratethe hollow 110. The hollow removable tip 108 assures that afterinstallation, and in the course of play, the distal end 106 is linedwith a mildly resilient polymer.

A currently preferred polymer is nylon 6/12. Commercial nylons mayinclude the designations of nylon 6, nylon 4/6, nylon 6/6, nylon 6/10,nylon 6/12, nylon 11 and nylon 12. The numerical portion of thedesignation for any of these nylons is taken from the number of carbonatoms in the constituent diamine and dibasic acid monomers used in itsmanufacture. The ratio of carbon atoms gives each specific nylon speciesunique characteristics. Nylon 6/12 has limited moisture absorption, aconsequence of the specific chemical formulation, and is resistant toswelling. Nylon 6/12 enjoys significant heat resistance, resistance toforeign chemicals, and displays good dimensional stability.

Nylon 6/12 is readily shapable on a lathe. One way of fabricating asuitable removable tip or corresponding polymeric tips of otherembodiments to be presented hereinafter is to turn nylon 6/12 in rodstock form on a lathe.

The removable tip 108 may take on other configurations. For example, theremovable tip 108 may comprise a male projection (not shown) whichcooperates with a corresponding female orifice (not shown) formed in theelongated shaft 102. Rod stock may have a diameter in the range of0.5500 inch to 0.6500 inch. For example, nylon 6/12 is available in rodstock form having a diameter of 0.6125 inch, which diameter iscommercially available.

FIG. 2 shows a pool cue stick 200 comprising a generally conventionalelongated shaft 202 having a proximal end 204 and a distal end 206. Thedistal end 106, which is that end intended to make contact with cueballs (not shown) may be bonded or otherwise permanently attached to apolymeric tip 208. The polymeric tip 208, shown in FIG. 2 to be joinedby a layer of permanent adhesive 210, may be made from the same polymeras its counterpart in FIG. 1, namely the removable tip 108. The cuestick 200 is intended to be used only for breaking and imparting englishor spin. A conventional cue (not shown) may be used at other times inthe play of the game.

FIG. 3 shows a pool cue stick 300 comprising a generally conventionalelongated shaft 302 having a proximal end 304. The distal end bearingthe contact tip is replaceable by selectively installing a first distalsection 305A or a second distal section 305B. The first distal section305A may have a permanently attached or removably attached polymeric tip308A. The second distal section 305B may have a conventional tip 308B.Attachment of the first distal section 305A and the second distalsection 305B to the elongated shaft 302 may be in any suitable way. Apool player may substitute either of the first distal section 305A andthe second distal section 305B at will. Using the same elongated shaft302 may maintain a familiar feel which may be less disorienting ordistracting in play than would be the case if using two entirelydifferent pool cues for breaking and spin shots on one hand and othershots on the other hand.

The invention may be thought of as a method of modifying friction of apool cue stick having a proximal end and a distal end for engaging a cueball. The method may comprise the step of terminating the distal endwith a resilient polymer such as nylon, and most preferredly nylon 6/12.

The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variationswhich may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventiveconcepts. For example, the tip which is provided may comprise amultipart assembly terminating in the specified constituent frictionmaterial, and need not be limited to a member made solely from thespecified constituent polymeric friction material. Illustratively, theinvention may comprise a short extension formed from one or morestructural materials such as metals, wood, hard plastics or resins,fiberglass, ceramics, synthetic stone compounds and the like. The shortextension may be tipped with a friction material such as nylon 6/12.

In another variation, the polymeric tip of a novel pool cue stickaccording to the invention may be internally modified, such as byincorporation of lubricants, fibers, and other substances and inclusionswhich are different in constituency from the polymeric materialconstituting the polymeric tip, such as nylon 6/12.

In still a further variation, a polymeric tip of a novel pool cue stickaccording to the invention may be textured as desired. For example,ridges which may be imparted in the lathe turning operation or otherfabrication technique may be intentionally left on that portion of thepolymeric tip which contacts a struck cue ball. Surface texturing otherthan by lathe turning may be provided.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to beunderstood that the present invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangementswhich are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possibleinterpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass allmodifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.

1. A cue stick for playing pool, comprising an elongated shaft having aproximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is that intendedto make contact with cue balls, wherein the distal end is lined with amildly resilient polymer.
 2. The cue stick of claim 1, wherein themildly resilient polymer is nylon.
 3. The cue stick of claim 2, whereinthe nylon is nylon 6/12.
 4. The cue stick of claim 1, wherein the nylonwhich lines the distal end is formed by turning the synthetic polymer ona lathe.
 5. The cue stick of claim 1, wherein the nylon which lines thedistal end is formed from stock rod of diameter in the range of 0.5500inch to 0.6500 inch.
 6. The cue stick of claim 5, wherein the nylonwhich lines the distal end is formed from rod stock of diameter of0.6125 inch.
 7. A method of modifying friction of a pool cue stickhaving a proximal end and a distal end for engaging a cue ball,comprising the step of terminating the distal end with a resilientpolymer.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the resilient polymer isnylon.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the nylon is nylon 6/12.